Today the Navy debuted a successful test of its laser cannon taking down a surveillance drone (VIDEO)

Today the U.S. Navy showed off the capabilities of its tubular Laser Weapon System (LaWS). The solid-state laser has been in development for six years at the cost of $40 million. The laser is a direct descendant of previous shorter range lasers that have been in use by the Navy. The LaWS, seen in the video above, was tested out last summer aboard the USS Dewey where it was able to take down and unmanned surveillance drone and fast boat.

Adm. Jonathan Greenert is heralding this achievement as the new age of Navy superiority The Navy expects the LaWS to make its debut next year aboard the USS Ponce for its maiden voyage to the Middle East.

.@cnogreenert: Someday a laser like the one that the Navy is deploying in 2014 could be used for missile defense #SAS13